Beauty Blog

I always enjoy seeing what celebrity style is like on the red carpet…although these people have personal stylists and a crew of hair and makeup people primping them before they venture out to events, its interesting to take of looks that they play it safe with or take a fashion risk with.  Beauty is no exception and by the looks of it, celebs like Eva Mendes, Vanessa Hudgens, and Leighton Meester are doin’ it up right.  Seen here at a Calvin Klein fashion benefit in New York City, Mendes–the new face of Calvin Klein–was glowing with natural looking skin, creamy pinkish cheeks, and a soft, semi-nude matte lipcolor–a trend for this spring season.  I like her hair this way too, it has volume, it looks healthy, and gives off a slight air of sex kitten hair. I also couldn’t help but notice that she really looks a lot like a younger Cindy Crawford here…and that’s never a bad thing!

The slightly grayish smoky eyes work well with the hair, to achieve this look, try to go with a dark gray shadow that has a bit of shimmer in it like MAC’s Satin Taupe ($13.55) or Ambiance.  Gray and pink are complimentary colors so this look on the eyes will be perfect with the lightest pink on the lips.

Leighton Meester…Gossip Girl gone good!  I think she looks so beautiful here at L.A.’s Milk Studios celebrating the launch of the new Chloe Melrose Ave. boutique.  Dressed in a peach Chloe dress of course, the budding young starlet kept her makeup palette matching that of her dress.

Nude eyes, shimmery peachy/pink lips and soft waves for the hair was all she needed to complete the look.  The perfect lip gloss to achieve the look would definitely be the infamous NARS Orgasm lip color ($24).  Perfecto!

Vanessa Hudgens rocked the nude glossy lips and coppery gold eyes here.  Her hair looks incredibly healthy and shiny to boot.  Now, she may be wearing false eyelashes, they just look so long that I can’t help but wonder if they are real.

Nevertheless, for this look…keep it super simple and brush on a shimmery gold shadow with a bit of bronze in it, and layer on a lengthening mascara like Clinique’s Long Pretty Lashes Mascara in Black ($14).  For the lips, pick up a cheapy clear gloss from the drugstore.  Now, if only we had all American boy Zac Effron to dangle from our arm…

Image Source: instyle.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more MAC eye shadow and NARS lip gloss.
Discounts on Clinique mascara.

I am a fan of hairstyles that are easy. What I mean by that is that its:

• a. easy to do
• b. doesn’t look over worked, stiff and processed
• c. pulls my stinking hair out of my face!

Which is why I am glad that ponytails are back in effect, woo-hoo!!

Not only are ponytails back but they are now available in so many different versions and styles it boggles the mind. A lot of which I dig! Back in the 1980’s ponytails were tragic, often pulled too tight and tied at an angle high on the head. Plus do you guys remember those plastic cone things we would wrap the base of the ponytail with as an accessory! Barf-o! Or better yet - S C R U N G I E S!

What were we thinking?!? It’s like we wanted to look retarded back then… (1987 btw)

Thank the powers that be for small miracles, CHECK OUT PONYTAILS AS THEY ARE NOW!

Electrifying! I know it’s hard not to stare at her boobs and eyes and focus on her hair but when you finally get around to it, Carmen Electra’s hair is awesome. It’s got that whole beachy, I-woke-up-like-this-and-pulled-back-my-do-vibe-that-I-love…

I call this “Race Horse Ponytail”. I don’t think it’s for everyone but I have seen it worn on some chicks with style, and it’s creative and unique which is always nice…

This is one of my favorite ponytail styles. THE BOUFFANT PONYTAIL! I think its very sexy a la’ Bridget Bardot esque…

Got short hair? No worries strap on an “Extension Ponytail”. WARNING: Use good judgment on this option. If your roots are black don’t strap on a platinum blonde ponytail piece for pete’s sake!! Your fooling no one ...

Okay so this one reminds me of the 80’s but a modernized version. I still don’t really like it, I mean picture the style on a normal person and not this hot model, yeck right? I think in this case it looks good because the girl is stunning, and I am staring at her face not her hair.

Last but not least more celebrity looks…

My thoughts from left to right are:

DO - DON’T - DO

Eva Mendes looks pretty with her curls pulled elegantly back in a mid head ponytail, the chick in the center (can’t remember her name) looks like an ALIEN! She kinda went overboard with the bouffant bit and the fact that it is so hard and polished looking makes me think her hair is an extension of her skull. Ashlee Simpson looks good, don’t love it, don’t hate it. It’s neutral. (I do love the color of her hair, how does she keep the red so vibrant?!)

So that’s my 2 cents …. any of you guys want to drop a dime or a quarter of opinion on the topic? Did I miss anything major? Send me your favorite ponytail dos or donts and I’ll add em! :)  - Michelle

Oh controversy! There is no better lubricant for the machine that is marketing. Calvin Klein has yet to actually launch “Secret Obsession” fragrance and yet the product is already hip deep in controversy.

The commercial featuring Eva Mendes has already been banned in the United States! Lucky for you, feel free to view the sultry tidbit on Youtube.com before they decide to take that down as well.

YouTube - Watch 

Warning: NSFW (not safe for work)

In the video, Eva Mendes seductively caresses her naked form and bed head hair. Seducing both the fragrance and the viewer?

As far as controversy goes, this doesn’t seem that big a deal to me personally. Sure there is a frame where you can see her nipple and breast but its CALVIN KLEIN folks! They have been causing a ruckus with their campaigns since the 70’s (Brooke Shields and nothing getting “between” her Calvins!) the 90’s (Marky Mark and Kate Moss) and ewww does anyone remember those seedy, grimy ads where everyone looked sweaty and “tired”. Oh and let’s not forget the age of “heroin chic” that Calvin Klein ushered in …

Love em’ or Hate em’ the man knows how to start a dialogue …

What are your thoughts?

Interested in discount shopping for brand name perfumes and colognes, click here.

Hmmm, looks like the Calvin Klein’s newest fragrance “Secret Obsession” is so good it makes you want to take your shirt off and pose seductively like Eva Mendes (giggles). Then again what else would you expect from the folks from the Calvin Klein ad agency, they’ve been stirring the controversy pot since the 60’s …

Read: Eva Mendes is Too Sexy for her Shirt in CK ads ( Bella Sugar Blog)

Check out 5 Products that will provide you with a more restful sleep according to the beauty blogger at “A Girl’s Gotta Spa Blog” …

Sephora Exclusive! Some things are just meant to be together, like peanut butter and chocolate, well Marchesa and Stila have formed a beautiful beauty union! The make-up Stila made for Marchesa Fall 2008 runway show is now being exclusively sold at Sephora.com and Sephora stores as of August 1st!

Read full article: Marchesa meets Stila and Makes Something Beautiful ( Beauty & the Blog)

While in the land of Smarter Beauty Blogging…

We discover the “humming” truth behind Asian skincare… BIRD POOP!

Celebrities sporting their awesome eyeglasses in public! Alas, I wish I was as brave as them. (sighs)